The report provides information on UNESCO’s work undertaken in supporting Member States in advancing literacy along six strategic areas: policy and planning for youth and adult literacy; scaling up literacy for women and girls; improving quality of programmes and innovations; enhancing literacy assessment and monitoring; furthering research, knowledge creation and advocacy; and building learning cities to promote inclusive and equitable societies.

The report calls upon Governments and the international community to step up efforts to make literacy a policy priority and to scale up actions with particular attention to vulnerable and marginalized groups and to mobilize sufficient, effective and sustainable funding to achieve this goal. The report also invites Governments to formulate legal frameworks and policies aimed at building flexible learning pathways and offering learning opportunities for people of all ages throughout life.

Regarding Education for Democracy the report demands to bolster, through education, the connection between democratic governance, peace, sustainable development, and the promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms.

The report calls upon UNESCO to continue to play a coordinating and catalysing role, supporting Member States in achieving the education-related SDGs.